Rose awoke early the next morning, excitement flowing through her vains. Tonight she would return to Sesshoumaru. Even if she would end up serving him again, she couldn't help but want those days with him back in her life.

Rose searched around for the letter to re-read, but could find it nowhere. Suspecting that the wind had taken it in the night, she fogot it and left to bathe. When she returned, she helped with breakfast. During the meal, Rose noticed a changed.

Miroku was more cheerful as he continued to flirt with her. Finally, Rose told him she'd been joking which he took rather well. This one action seemed to relax both Inuyasha and Sango. Yet Inuyasha still would get a 'lost in thought' look to his expression. Kagome remained intense, her gaze ever on Rose.

After breakfast, Kagome suggested moving on, but Rose reminded the others of her friend that would be coming that night. She told them that they could continue if they'd like, but she would stay. The others chose to stay as well; Kagome was not happy with the group decision. Inuyasha offered to train Rose on offensive techniques. Miroku and Sango offered to help as well. So, the most of the day was spent training in mock fights. At last, sunset came.

"I'm really sorry, Inu. I didn't mean to catch you off guard like that," Rose apologized as she wrapped Inuyasha's arm. During the training, she had gotten around his defense and managed a couple good hits.

"Yeah...well, I should have known you would be so good," Inuyasha complimented. "Just look at our last battle." Rose blushed at his words.

"What did you just call him?" Kagome asked suspiciously.

"What? Inu? It's just a nickname, Kagome," Rose told her.

"So now you're giving him a pet name!" Kagome snapped, rising to her feet. "You tramp! First, I see you kissing him. Then you're flirting with Miroku. I find that you enjoyed being with Sesshoumaru. And now this!"

Sango looked up at Kagome in shock. "What are you talking about? How can you accuse Rose like that?"

"This is how!" Kagome moved to her bag and pulled the letter from Sesshoumaru from where she hadhid it. She proceeded to read it aloud. The others sat listening, scarcely believing what they were hearing. Rose said nothing, just bowed her head, finishing up with the wrapping, and waited until Kagome was through. When it was over, the others looked to Rose, thier eyes asking if it were true.

Rose sighed, keeping her head bowed and her hair hiding her face. "It's true," she told them, "but I'm not a tramp. Inuyasha and I did kiss, but it was unexpected." She lifted her head and looked to Inuyasha. "I'm sorry, Inu, but I don't care for you as anything more than a friend. It's easy to see that Kagome cares for you more than I ever will. I only give you a nickname as a friend."

Kagome stared in shock, her cheeks going red. Inuyasha looked much the same though sadness did lay in his eyes. Rose continued, not looking to either. "I was only joking around with Miroku." She looked to Miroku and Sango. "I needed something to get my mind off the inevitable fight after Kagome saw Inu and me; Miroku's always good for a laugh. He understands that I didn't mean the kisses as more than friendly and my actions were all for fun. Besides, who could be better to bear his children than the person who he cares for the most, and she returning the care. Yes, I speak of you, Sango."

Miroku gained a look of shock as well as he looked to Sango. Sango just held Kirara close to her as she tried to hide her blushing face. Rose looked to both couples. She had done it, brought their feelings out in the open when they would not. Now she had only one last task. "As for Sesshoumaru..." As the gazes were returned to the wolf demoness in expectance, she backed up close to the trees. Deep in her heart she could feel it; she could feel that he was waiting, feel that he wasn't too far off. The longing for him rose within her, a longing just to be by his side, just to be with him. A seconded longing came forth as well, the longing for his attention and love, to be held by him as her dreams so often foretold. Both longings combined and were voiced with a single howl that erupted from her lips.

Sesshoumaru paced his own camp uneasily; he was worried that something had happened for Rose had yet to call. Rin slept safely under the gaurd of Jaken and Au-Un.

'Why do I worry about her so? Why do I wish to hear her voice again? The feeling I have for her...it is the same feeling that I hold for Rin, but its stronger.' Sesshomaru glanced at the full moon that shone above as he stopped his pacing to listen. A sense of tension rode upon the air, easily felt with a mix of anxiety.

"M'lord, when the mistress calls, shall I lead Au-Un back to the palace with Rin?" asked Jaken. The worry towards his master's strange behavior was apparent in his eyes as he sat by the sleeping girl.

"Yes, Jaken," replied Sesshoumaru, not looking back to him.

Jaken and Rin, as well as the servants at the palace, had taken to speaking of Rose by the title Mistress ever since she was taken away. Sesshoumaru figured it was because of how he rarely hid the fact that he was unhappy because of the lose of Rose, of how if a servant asked about news on her he would speak of her as and equal, of how it was plain for anyone to see that he missed her.

'Rose, where are you? You wouldn't have chosen to stay wth my disgrace of a half-demon brother, would you? I...I need you to return. I want you to return. I want you here so I can tell you--' His thoughts ended as a sad, needy wolf howl echoed through the forest. The demon lord was off in a flash to find his wolf demon companion.

Rose waited patiently, not looking to any of her traveling companions as they stared at her. She looked up as she heard a noise, hope shining in her expression. But a turn and a look took the hope away. One of Naraku's puppets stood in the shadows nearby.

"Lovely, Rose. Destorying them by making their pathetic feelings clear. Toying with them as if they were puppets on your strings. I couldn't have done better myself," it said.

"Naraku!" Kagome gasped as she spotted the puppet.

"How dare you come to us!" Inuyasha growled, flexing his claws as he stood.

"I have every right," the puppet replied. "I'm just checking up on my favorite yasha (female demon)." It turned to Rose. "I also wanted to call upon your sevices, but tonight doesn't seem to be a good time. I can hear your love coming, so I will come back to you tomorrow."

Inuyasha lunged at the puppet, but it just disappeared into the shadows. Rose ignored the cursing and frustrated Inuyasha as she listened to the sound of running steps coming closer. The sound signaled the owner slowing to a walk then drawing a sword. Inuyasha caught the sound quickly and drew his own, scenting his brother on the wind. Rose did not move away from the trees, wanting this to be an easy escape.

Sesshoumarue emearged from the trees with Tokijin drawn. His amber eyes looked to Rose. As she gazed back into his eyes, she could have sworn she saw an emotion, a sweet and gentle emotion, sparkling in the usually emotionless depths. Sesshoumaru turned away from her and looked to his brother.

"Rose! Move away from him slowly," warned Inuyasha.

"Come now, Inuyasha. You aren't trying to save someone who doesn't want saved for a second time, are you?" Sesshoumaru asked as he came to stand by Rose.

"So the letter is true," said Sango.

"No! Why would Rose go with someone like you?" Shippo said, distraught. Rose smiled saddly to the two of them as she stepped closer to her lord. Sesshoumaru glanced at her, giving an aproving nod, before keeping an eye on his brother once more. Sesshoumaru didn't visibly react when Rose place one hand on his shoulder.

"Because Kagome told at least one truth. The letter is real and true. I enjoyed my time with my lord and want to go back. I...I..." she didn't say more though she wanted to. She bowed her head and let her hand fall back to her side, leaving from resting on her lord's shoulder.

Finally, she turned pleading eyes to Sesshoumaru, finding him already watching her with interest. Surprise showed breifly upon his face for had never seen her like this: needy, helpless, weak; sure she had used that act when she first came to him, but this wasn't an act. He sheathed his sword and turned to face her. Rose clasped her hands infront of her and bowed her head again. She spoke to him and him only. "I am sorry, my lord. I did not mean to worry you like I did. I accept any punishment you see fit for my actions. I only ask that we leave now. I will return to work immedietly; just take me home."

"Rose! You don't have to do this! I'm not that mad at you!" Kagome pleaded, taking steps foreward and reaching out to the yasha.

Sesshoumaru sent a glare to Kagome that stopped her in her tracks. How dare she try to sway Rose away from him! Slowly he turned back to Rose, his face stern. "We will talk at the palace." His gaze went to his brother. "Thank you, brother, for watching over and training my valued servant. I may repay the favor one day." With that, Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm around Rose's waist, she wrapping her arms about his neck as he lifted her. Both disappeared into the trees as Sesshoumaru ran back into the forest and headed for home.